Posted on 07/20/2007 7:29:25 AM PDT by RoseyT
The employees at Anel's Hair Salon, a shop that caters to many Hispanics, hoped what they were hearing were rumors. But they now know their friends and clients are facing a very real change. Hair stylist Antonia Garcia said, " They said they were receiving notices they were getting called to the office and even told they had 8 days, a week to find another job or to prove their citizenship.
Hilaria Rosales, a legal secretary for an immigration attorney is seeing an increase of clients concerned about their future. " What we've provided is a letter stating we're handling their immigration case. We've sent out a letter. I hope that will help. "
But it likely won't. Workforce Solutions has been told by Pilgrim's Pride human resources to expect a massive layoff. Site manager Melony Brown said, " We got an estimate from the Lufkin center of about 600 people and from the Nacogdoches center about 800 people." A loss of that magnitude is certain to affect production at the processing plant. It won't be easy filling the positions. Brown said, " It's a difficult job to fill because it is the type of work it is definitely labor work if they want that environment. "
In an effort to fill the needed positions Pilgrim's Pride has increased its starting wage to $8.00 an hour. A Hispanic church in Nacogdoches is asking for prayers for the soon to be laid off employees who were willing to work for less.
Pilgrim's Pride isn't responding to media phone calls, but we're told by Workforce Solutions that the company is hiring on the spot if the person has the correct documentation. Formal interviews will begin next week.
For the people leaving, the jobs have provided for years a means to build a better life. Garcia said her friends have, " New cars, just got loans for houses and it's going to be really hard to find another job to pay all of that off. "
Social workers are concerned about the immediate impact the layoff has on individuals and entire communities. Dean of SFA Social Work and member of of Centro Familiar Cristiano, Dr. Linda Morales said, " It would have a major impact. They're are the bread winners of families and if they're laid off many have several children, will have an immediate impact on our entire community and on our social resources. "
The politics of immigration, a need for corporate America and a willingness to break laws for a better life are all factors in this issue. This kind of layoff has occurred before at Pilgrim's Pride and could likely happen again.
There's a related article on the Lufkin Daily News, located here. http://www.lufkindailynews.com/hp/content/region/ETtoday/stories/2007/07/19/pilgrim_illegals.html
Workforce solutions is a temp agency which I think was also involved in the high profile busts in Maryland and California. They seem to specialize in illegal aliens.
A direct refutation of the argument that illegal immigration doesn't decrease wages and opportunities for lower skilled Americans
Criminy...what were they paying before??
Yup!
Good for them.
I notice that Pilgrim’s Pride is the producer of various salads sold at deli counters in the supermarkets around here.
Glad to see they’re trying to comply with the law.
You beat me to it. So much for the argument that illegal labor doesn't depress the wage market.
L
Garcia said her friends have, “ New cars, just got loans for houses and it’s going to be really hard to find another job to pay all of that off. “
And they’re illegals???? or is that just an assumption? If they are here legally they should not be worried.
Remember. They are only doing the jobs Americans wont do.
/is a sarc tag even needed
“For the people leaving, the jobs have provided for years a means to build a better life. Garcia said her friends have, “ New cars, just got loans for houses and it’s going to be really hard to find another job to pay all of that off. “
Next time tell your amigos not to mass march in the streets carrying Mexican flags; demanding the right to vote; propose reclaiming large portions of the US Southwest, and demanding the elimination of the US-mexican border.
And what's going to happen to lenders and, indirectly, to the rest of us when lots and lots of loans are defaulted on because the illegals aren't working here anymore? Interest rates go up and housing prices go down.
Well, if you read the article, the bleeding heart social workers are going to try to keep them here, rather than do the right thing and provide them bus tickets to Mexico. I'd expect to see them trying to suck off the government teat, as well. And when they get rowdy, expect to see them clogging the ER's and the courtrooms as well. Life in an American jail has got to be better than life in a rural Mexican town.
Most of them couldn't qualify for a tourist visa let alone an immigrant visa.
Maybe they will start this trend in their Mt. Pleasant/Pittsburg operations as well. We are inundated with illegals up here. You can’t go to Wal-Mart or anywhere without thinking you are at a Selena concert.
This area has seen a significant downturn the last few years and indigenous resident are becoming more upset that Bo is the major cause of this depreciation of types of people moving in and the standard of living when he let it be known he would hire these low wage illegals to cut costs. Not to mention all the bilingual BS that came with it.
Good news.
I had to jump through hoops to get my first mortgage when they did the credit check....how do you get a mortgage without a valid SSN?
The real question is how they can afford new cars and houses on less than $8/hr.
Of course, not buying insurance or paying income tax does boost the bottom line.
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